Foul indicating equipment



Dec. 22, 1942. 'J, E. BANCRQ'FT 2,305,662

' would mnrcuma EQUIPMENT Filed Aug. 12, 1941 l I 4 U 44 15' LINE Patented Dec. 22, 1942 FOUL INDICATING EQUIPMENT James E. Bancroft, Jam American Bowling an aica, N. Y., assignor to d Billiard Corporation,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 12,

6 Claims.

This invention relates-generally to an indicating arrangement, of particular utility in games such as bowling in which the presence of a player's body or of portions of his body within certain areas constitutes a foul, for indicating the commission ofsuch a foul. More particularly, my invention relates to an electrically operated arrangement of the character described.

While my invention has been disclosed herein in its application to the game of bowling and to a bowling alley installation, it will be understood that it is not so restricted, but that it may have many other applications, as will become apparent when the invention is fully understood.

In the game of bowling, the player stands in the runway approach, which is bounded by a foul line, beyond which lies the bowling surface or alley bed. According to the standard rules promulgated by the American Bowling Congress,

a foul is committed whenever a player touches any portion of the foul line or the alley bed beyond it.

An object of my invention is the provision of a foul indicating arrangement which will indicate a foul whenever such a foul, as defined by the American Bowling Congress rules, has been committed, and which will not become active unless such a foul has been committed.

I attain this object by the provision of an antenna system connected to a capacity operated relay which in turn operates a signal, said antenna system being adapted to cause operation of said relay and signal whenever the capacitance thereof is suddenly increased by the presence within predetermined limits thereof of any portion of a players body, and said antenna system being further so distributed that a signal will be given whenever any portion of a players body substantially touches the foul line or any portion of the alley bed beyond it.

For the further attainment of this object, I provide an antenna system constituted by two separate antennae, each adapted to function independently of the other and each adapted under predetermined conditions peculiar to each to cause the relay and the sign'alto operate. One of these antennae is adapted to function actively only on contact or substantial contact of any portion of a players body with the foul line,

while the other is adapted to function actively only when the players body touches the alley bedbeyond the foul line.

A- further object of my invention is the provision, as an additional feature of my invention,

1941, Serial N0. 406,463

of means for indicating the commission of a foul 55' on an alley which is flanked bya vertical wall, by reason of the contact of any portion of a players body with the said wall.

In order to attain this further object, I provide an antenna arranged in two dimensions along said wall, so as to function actively to cause operation of the relay and its signal whenever any portion of a players body touches said vertical wall.

The general object of my invention is the provision of a simple, effective and inexpensive foul indicating arrangement.

These objects, and such other objects as will hereinafter appear or be pointedout, are attained in the illustrative embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing, in which:

Figure I is a plan View of a bowling alley installation showing my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is-a view in perspective showing the electrical circuits of the installation of Figure '1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan View, on an enlarged scale, and partly in section ofa portion of the alley bed of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on-the line 4*-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3'.

In Figure 1, I have shown a bowling alley installation comprising two alloys marked 10 and H respectively, and each provided with a foul line, ,marked 12' and I3 respectively, while the runway approaches are marked l4 and I5. Ball returns I6 are-shown on each side'of each alley. A vertical wall I1 is shown at one side of the alley H. The construction so far described is conventional.

According to my improved construction; I associate with the alley an antenna system comprising an antenna l3 which is coincident in position with the foul line, as will be explained more in detail hereinafter, and a second antenna l9 comprising numerous parallel branches all connected together and in their entirety forming a network which underlies a substantial area of the alley bed. The area covered by the antenna is of such extent that it covers all that portion of the alley bed into which it is ordinarily possible and necessary for a player to step when during the play he accidentallyor' otherwise oversteps the foul line.

As an additional feature of my invention, I provide an antenna 20, shown as in the form of a network similar to'the antenna [9110 ,cover an area on the vertical wall ll, which also defines the area which it is ordinarily possible for a player, when exceeding the foul line limits, to touch. The antenna 23, when provided, may be connected to the antenna It, and in fact constitute an extension thereof.

These antennae i8 and It, as Well as the antenna 253, Where one is used, are connect-ed to a capacity operated relay 2 l which in turn is connected to a suitable signal, which may consist of a visible signal, such as a light 22, and an audible signal, such as a bell 23.

I have found that if it is attempted to unite the antennae I8 and I3 into a single system, that the effect will be to render the antenna portion is over-sensitive, that is to say Where it is attempted to make the antenna portion I9 of a sensitivity great enough to respond properly to fouls committed by stepping on the alley bed, that the antenna [3 will be over-sensitive, so that it Will register a foul when the player puts his foot in the runway even as far as a few inches away from the foul line, whereas under the American Bowling Congress rules, a foul is not committed until the player touches the foul line. For that reason, I have made the antenna [8 and I9 separate, although they both are connected to the relay 2| through a common connection 24.

In connection with each antenna, I provide means for adjusting the capacitance thereof independently of that of the other antenna.

The details of a practical embodiment of my invention, which has been outlined hereinabove in its general features, will now be explained with the aid of Figures 2 to inclusive.

In Figure 2, the outlines of the surface of the alley bed have been indicated by broken lines 24', and the boundaries of its foul line, which in its physical form is required by the American Bowling Congress to be a strip exactly half an inch wide, having been indicated by the broken lines 25 and 26. The foul line, as described, is constituted by the upper surface of a rod or bar of material 21, which is sunk traversely into the alley bed with said upper surface flush with the surface of the alley bed. In my improved con- -1 struction this rod 21 is made of insulating material, such as Bakelite or hard rubber, for a pur pose that will appear, and its width is exactly one-half an inch, while its depth may also be onehalf an inch.

A plate or strip 28 is shown sunk into the alley bed between the rod 21 and the adjacent portions of the alley bed, and a second plate or strip 29 is similarly sunk into the alley bed on the opposite side of the rod 21. ably of very thin conducting material and in order to accommodate them between the boards, the width of the rod 21 may be somewhat reduced. This reduction is very small, however, as the plates 28 and 29 in practice may have a thickness of as little as .003". They may be made of any good electrical conducting material, such as strip sheet copper.

The plate 28 constitutes the main portion of the antenna l8, and its upper edge 30, in a new installation, is preferably sunk about one-eighth of an inch below the alley bed. The ideal condition would be to have the top edge of the plate flush with the surface of the alley bed, but this is impractical because of the need of periodical resurfacing of the alley bed. At every grindingv down of the alley bed the size of the plate 28 and its capacitance would be reduced. By sinking the top edge of the plate below the surface of the alley bed, the latter may be resurfaced With- These plates are preferout reducing the size of the plate. It is connected by a conductor 3| to one side of a variable condenser 32, which is connected on its other side to a conductor 32 leading through a conductor 34 to the capacity operated relay 2|, which is suitably connected to a power source 35 and which is also grounded in the conventional manner, as shown at 36.

The plate 29 is shown dimensioned and positioned similarly to plate 28, except that it is on the opposite side of the foul line rod 21. Extending outwardly from the lower portions of the plate 29 are a plurality of conductors 38, which as shown in Figure 5 are positioned between the adjacent boards 39 of the alley bed. In practice I have found that the objects of my invention can best be attained by positioning these conductors 38 at a depth of three-eighths of an inch below the alley bed surface, whereby resurfacing is provided for, and by spacing them laterally from each other by the width of two of the floor boards 39. For example, the ordinary alley bed has forty-two fioor boards. Therefore, the number of conductors 38 would be twenty-one. The plate 29 and the conductors 38 constitute the greater portion of antenna I9. It is completed by a conductor 40 connecting the plate'29 to a variable condenser 4|, which has its other side connected by the conductor 42 to the conductor 34 leading into the relay 2|.

The conductor system 33, 34 and 42 in practice may consist of the so-called coaxial conductor, the outer sheath of which is grounded as shown at 43.

The condensers 32 and 4| may be positioned as desired. However, to insure compactness of the device, I have found it of advantage to place them as closely as possible to the antenna.

While the parts 28'and 29 have been shown as strips or plates, it is to be understood that for particular purposes other forms, such as simple wires, rods, or systems of wires or rods may be found of equal utility or even preferable.

The conductors 38 have been shown in the form of wires. In practice, I have found thin gauge steel wire, such as music Wire, to be very satisfactory because it can be inserted between the floor boards of the alley bed by prying the floor boards apart. Steel is preferable as a material, rather than a better conducting but mechanically weaker material, because the latter material will not as well withstand the strain incident to the operation of inserting the wires between the floor boards. I have found in practice, that a length of thirty inches for the wires 38 is sufficient for the attainment of the objects of my invention.

The antenna 20 may comprise, as shown, a central wire 44 from which bran-ch 01f horizontal wires 45, the length of which may be the same as that of the wires 38. While the wires 45 have been shown as horizontal, they may, of course, be otherwise disposed, provided only the foul area is covered by the antenna system.

In installing the antenna 20, the wires thereof may be laid over the wall Without imbedding them thereinto. Then, if desired, in order tov disguise their presence, they may be covered with wall paper or the like.

For convenience in the operation of the signals, I have provided a push button shown at 46 in Figure 2, whereby resetting of the relay may be effected after the signals 22 and 23 have been operated. These signals are preferably arranged in practice so that they will function after the commission of a foul until their operation is interrupted by the device 46.

The condensers 32 and II are adjusted independently so that each imparts to its antenna the desired degree of sensitivity. As already stated, the adjustment must be such that the current strength in either circuit alone, when its capacitance is increased on the commission of a foul, is sufiicient to operate the signal. Once the condensers are adjusted the adjustment need not ordinarily be disturbed, unless checking, carried out at periodic intervals shows such adjustment to be necessary.

In the operation of th arrangement, it will be understood that the scorekeeper, after noting a foul called to his attention by the signalling system, will reset the system for signalling the next foul by pressing the push button 46.

While I have herein disclosed an illustrative embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the same may be embodied in many other forms as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. It will further be understood that the disclosure herein is by way of illustration merely,

and is therefore not to be interpreted in a limiting sense, and that I do not limit myself, other than as called for by the prior art.

This application is a continuation in part of application 343,398 filed July 1, 1940.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a foul indicating arrangement for a game installation such as a bowling alley, an antenna comprising thin wires laid between adjacent floor 9 boards of the alley bed and extending along the alley bed for a substantial distance from the foul line, and means electrically uniting said conductors.

2. In a signalling system for indicating the commission of a foul in game apparatus such as a bowling alley bed, said bed having a foul area: an antenna lying in one portion of said foul area, a second antenna lying in another portion of said foul area, a signalling device, and means directly connecting each of said antennae, independently of the other antenna to said signalling device and means for varying the degree of sensitivity of one antenna system relatively to the other.

3. In .a signalling system for indicating the commission of a foul in game apparatus such as a bowling alley bed, said bed having a foul area: an antenna lying in one portion of said foul area, a second antenna lying in another portion of said foul area, a signalling device, means directly connecting each of said antennae to said signalling device, and capacitance means associated with each of said antennae for varying the capacitance of each antenna circuit independently of the other.

4. In a signalling system for indicating the commission of a foul in game apparatus such as a bowling alley bed, said bed having a foul area: an antenna lying' in one portion of said foul area and a second antenna lying in another portion of said foul area; a signalling device and means directly connecting each of said antennae to said signalling device, and means for varying the capacitance of one antenna circuit relatively to the other.

5. In a signalling system for indicating the commission of a foul in game apparatus such as a bowling alley bed, said bed having a foul area: an antenna lying in one portion of said foul area, a second antenna lying in another portion of said foul area, a signalling device, and means connecting each of said antennae to said signalling device, said means including a variable condenser associated with each antenna for varying the capacitance of each antenna independently of the other and conductors shielded externally by grounded shields.

6. In an arrangement for indicating the commission of a foul in a game installation such as a bowling alley, an antenna positioned beneath the foul line, a second antenna positioned in the foul area on the alley bed and partly on the wall adjacent said alley bed, and a signalling device adapted to emit a signal under predetermined conditions at either of said antennae, means for varying the capacitance of each antenna circuit independently of the other and means directly connecting each of said antennae to said signalling device.

JAMES E. BANCROF'I. 

